Written by Dr Jane Williams, Dr Tessa Grigg and Bindy Cummings
Key takeaways:
- Physical activity boosts academic success. In this blog, we highlight the research that shows that movement-based programs like GymbaROO-KindyROO enhance children’s literacy, numeracy and overall learning readiness.
- Building essential skills for reading, writing and maths. GymbaROO-KindyROO activities strengthen motor skills, language development, hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness – all crucial for NAPLAN success.
- Early development leads to confident learners. By engaging in movement, music and play, children develop the foundational skills they need to excel in school and approach NAPLAN with confidence.
With the Australian National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (commonly known as NAPLAN) coming up this month, it’s important to address the elephant in the room. The 2024 NAPLAN results (1) released last year, have highlighted a decline in children’s academic achievement over the last decade.
In an article from ABC News, the 2024 NAPLAN results show one third of all students are not meeting the minimum benchmarks for literacy and numeracy. This means that children will find it difficult to function in our world where being able to read and manage numbers is vital. So, what is going wrong? Why at a time where we’re more advanced around brain development and children’s education are our kids falling behind academically?
At GymbaROO-KindyROO we believe we have part of the answer. As a parent, you can focus on your child and provide them with as many opportunities as possible. Our GymbaROO-KindyROO children have an excellent base of essential skills that help the learning process. Let’s find out more…
How GymbaROO-KindyROO Can Help Kids For NAPLAN
Our Educators Have Done The Research
What if we told you that doing less reading and maths and more physical activity could help improve NAPLAN results? Our expert educators at GymbaROO created the ‘Unlocking Potential’ (UP) Program. The UP Program is a neuro-developmentally structured physical activity program for primary school children.
Studies (2) show that when this activity program is done daily, it clearly shows improvement in academic achievement, NAPLAN results and enhanced skills physically, emotionally and socially. Overall happiness levels at school also saw an improvement.
One of the reasons that GymbaROO-KindyROO was developed was to ensure children can be prepared and ready to learn the moment they start school. GymbaROO-KindyROO children have skills that are very welcome in classrooms around the country. Teachers tell us that not only are the children physically fit, socially adept and emotionally mature, but they are also ready to learn and do so with ease and confidence. Many teachers have reported that GymbaROO-KindyROO children “stand out in the classroom”.
What is it we do at GymbaROO-KindyROO that prepares children for learning and academic success? The GymbaROO-KindyROO program is designed to give babies and children the movement experiences they need to boost brain development and build strong foundations for learning at school. Here is how our programs help with reading, writing and maths that prepare kids for the NAPLAN tests.
How Does GymbaROO-KindyROO Help Kids With Reading?
The journey to becoming a confident reader starts long before a child begins school, and movement plays a bigger role than many parents realise. At GymbaROO, our programs are designed to give children the best start by building the essential brain and body connections needed for reading success, especially in the lead-up to NAPLAN tests. 
Through fun, play-based activities like music, movement games and nursery rhymes, children not only strengthen their motor skills but also develop key vision and language skills. As kids move, their eyes learn to track from left to right – just like they will when reading words on a page.
Songs and rhymes help wire the brain for speech by boosting language development – a vital ingredient for becoming a strong reader. GymbaROO-KindyROO lays the foundation for learning, helping children feel more confident and ready to take on reading with ease.
How Do GymbaROO-KindyROO Kids Excel At Writing?
At GymbaROO-KindyROO, we know that strong handwriting skills are built from the ground up starting with big muscle development. Babies begin this journey through tummy time, crawling and creeping, which help strengthen their neck, back, shoulders and arms. These early movements lay the foundations for fine motor skills like holding a pencil and controlling small hand movements that are essential for writing with confidence.
As children grow, GymbaROO-KindyROO classes continue to support this development with joyful activities that target upper body strength. Climbing, swinging and hanging on equipment like monkey bares not only builds strong shoulders and arms but also develops grip strength. This is a key ingredient for holding a pencil correctly. These activities also improve hand-eye coordination and motor planning – helping kids learn how to move and think at the same time which will help for copying words during writing tasks. 
Alongside physical development, GymbaROO-KindyROO classes focus on other vital skills needing for writing success including:
- Games, music and movement activities that help improve posture, balance and the ability to sit still and concentrate
- Visual tracking exercises that help their eyes more smoothly across a page
- Rhythm-based games that boost auditory processing so kids can follow instructions better
All of these elements work together to create the brain and body connection that make writing feel natural, not frustrating.
Why Are GymbaROO-KindyROO Kids Prepared To Learn Maths?
Early maths skills start with movement and sensory experiences long before children begin counting or solving problems (3). Our classes aim to help little ones explore key maths concepts like shape, space, size and order. These activities help children learn how their bodies fit into spaces and how to sequence their movements:
Crawling through tunnels- Climbing over obstacles
- Playing with different sized objects
Research (2) shows that toddlers who develop a wide range of motor skills tend to perform better in maths later on, proving just how connected movement is to early learning.
Music and rhythm play a big part in building maths foundations too (4, 5). How do they recognise patterns? Clapping games, dancing and playing with instruments like maracas and rhythm sticks during GymbaROO-KindyROO classes will help them understand numbers and sequences. These activities also improve temporal awareness (the brain’s sense of timing) which helps with problem solving, organising ideas and following steps in order. All of these skills come into play during NAPLAN maths tasks.
By combining movement, music and play, GymbaROO-KindyROO helps children develop the building blocks they need to enjoy maths tasks.
Enrol in a GymbaROO-KindyROO Program
From baby classes to school readiness, we have fun activities in our GymbaROO-KindyROO programs that ensure children develop solid foundational building blocks for learning at school and beyond. Help your child excel in tests like NAPLAN by enrolling them to a GymbaROO-KindyROO program.
Authors:
Dr Jane Williams (PhD, BMgt, RN(Paeds)) is one of Australia’s leading experts on baby and child development. More on Dr Williams here.
Dr Tessa Grigg (PhD, Dip Tch Primary and ECE) is an experienced teacher and the Research and Education Manager at GymbaROO-KindyROO.
Bindy Cummings (B.Ed hons) is a teacher, a GymbaROO early childhood neuro-developmental consultant and the co-creator of GymbaROO’s Active Babies Smart Kids series. She has written articles for GymbaROO’s First Steps magazine, digital platforms and media for over ten years.
References:
- ACARA. NAPLAN: National Results Commentaries. Sydney, Australia: Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority; 2024.
- Williams J. Does a neurodevelopmental movement program affect Australian children’s academic performance? Unlocking Potential: a report. Australian Journal of Child and Family Health Nursing. 2015;2(12):12 – 8.
- Reikerås E, Moser T, Tønnessen FE. Mathematical skills and motor life skills in toddlers: do differences in mathematical skills reflect differences in motor skills? European early childhood education research journal. 2017;25(1):72-88.
- Chan MMY, Han YMY. The functional brain networks activated by music listening: A neuroimaging meta-analysis and implications for treatment. Neuropsychology. 2022;36(1):4-22.
- Misuraca R, Miceli S, Teuscher U. Three effective ways to nurture our brain: Physical activity, healthy nutrition, and music: A review. European Psychologist. 2017;22(2):101–20.